Prime Minister Garry Conille and Foreign Minister Dominique Dupuy met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken Tuesday in Washington.
U. S Secretary Blinken, Prime Minister Conille, and the new Foreign Minister Dupuy discussed the crisis in Haiti and the recent arrival of the United Nations-authorized Multinational Security Support mission.
The Secretary reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the mission and the Haitian people. In addition to improved security, the parties reinforced the importance of good governance, including the facilitation of free and fair elections, inclusive growth, and the provision of humanitarian assistance.
The Secretary of State also noted the United States’ readiness to provide assistance to Haiti and other partners in the region in the event of any damage caused by Hurricane Beryl, which is being closely monitored.
Prime Minister Conille expressed gratitude for the continued solidarity and support from the American people and President Biden. He acknowledged the challenges ahead but says he remains confident in Haiti’s ability to overcome them with the new governmental structures in place.
TPS For Haitians
The meeting comes on the heels of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants for an additional 18 months.
This extension is critical for the many Haitian nationals who have sought refuge in the United States due to ongoing violence and environmental disasters in their homeland.
TPS is a designation that allows foreign-born individuals who cannot return to their home countries safely due to armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions to stay in the U.S. temporarily.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas noted in a recent release that several regions in Haiti continue to face severe challenges, including violence, lack of access to basic necessities, and frequent natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes.
Originally set to expire on August 4, 2024, Haiti’s TPS designation has now been extended until February 3, 2026. This allows Haitian immigrants to remain in the United States with work authorization and protection from deportation.
Haitians currently holding TPS have until August 29 to re-register, while those eligible to apply for the first time can do so until February 2026. This extension is expected to benefit an estimated 309,000 Haitian nationals, provided they have been residing in the U.S. since before June 3, 2024.
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